Category: NHL

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks loss ends 3 game win streak; Red Wings score 4 times in third period

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Detroit Red Wings left wing David Perron celebrates after against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) during the second period at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Nov 17. 2022 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 San Jose Sharks (6-10-3) defenseman Erik Karlsson continues to find the back end of the net as he picked up a goal on four shots against the Detroit Red Wings (8-5-4) on Thursday night.

#2 The Sharks had a brief lead on the Red Wings 2-1 after the first period but caved in in the second period when the Red Wings added two unanswered goals making 3-2.

#3 The roof further caved in the third and final period after the Red Wings scored four goals and pretty ran away with a three goal 7-4 win at SAP Center on Thursday night.

#4 Sharks goaltender James Reimer faced 20 shots saving 14. Was this game for Reimer a game where the Red Wings picked up on his skill set and he ended up facing a barrage of goals that just couldn’t stop or he just simply didn’t get any help up front?

#5 The New York Rangers who had their own set of struggles comes on into SAP Center on Saturday night. The Rangers are 5-3-2 in their last ten. The Rangers know when they step out on the ice it’s not going easy to win games much like the Sharks who had their share of struggles.

Join Len for the San Jose Sharks podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks drop game against Red Wings 7-4 on Hockey Fights Cancer night

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Photo credit to San Jose Sharks Twitter. Matt Nieto gets warmed up before the game against the Detroit Red Wings on Hockey Fights Cancer night at SAP Center

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE–At SAP Center the Sharks took on the Red Wings in a back-and-forth affair with Detroit coming out victorious by a score of 7-4.

Between the pipes for the Red Wings was Ville Husso and for the Sharks it was James Reimer.

The first big event of the opening period was Joe Veleno taking a board penalty to get the Sharks power play on the ice.

It ended up being a rather uneventful extra man opportunity as San Jose only was able to muster a couple of chances.

Not too long after the penalty kill the Sharks did get on the board with Kevin Labanc ripping home his third goal of the season on a drop pass from Erik Karlsson at the 13:04 mark. Timo Meier also got the assist on the goal as the teal-and-white found the back of the net first.

The response from Detroit did not take long as David Perron fead a beautiful pass across the slot to Filip Hronek for his second goal of the season.

After the goal the Sharks took a penalty for tripping at the 9:55 mark as Luke Kunin went to the box.

Despite the tied score the shots favored the San Jose heavily at 6-2 at the 9:55 mark.

The penalty kill unit looked great when called upon as Detroit couldn’t get much going and got no goals on the opportunity.

The power play being killed off seemed to give some juice to the Sharks as they got a couple chances after.

One of those chances was put home by Matt Nieto getting his third goal of the season as well. It was a solid play with Nieto dekeing past the defender and backhanding one past Husso’s blocker.

The assists on the goal went to Karlsson and Nick Cicek which was Cicek’s first point in the pro’s in just his second game.

In the dying moments of the period Alexander Barabonov would take an interference penalty.

Dylan Larkin on the PP would have a great look right in the slot but was denied by Reimer.

That ended up being really the only good look for Detroit as the Sharks killed the penalty and rode out the rest of the period still up by one.

The shots at the end of the period finished in favor of the Sharks by 8-5.

The second period started off quietly with not a lot of looks either way.

Again a penalty was the first big play of the game as Nick Bonino went to the box for hooking with the Sharks scrambling in their own end.

This power play for Detroit looked more threatening but was still not able to score as the PK remained perfect.

At the 8:33 mark of the second period Larkin fired one off the rush and the puck bounced off of Perron’s skate and past Reimer to tie the game up. Dominik Kubalik also got an assist on Perron’s sixth goal of the season.

Following up Perron Jake Walman stepped into one at the point and wired one past Reimer to give the Red Wings the lead at 3-2. The assists going to Michael Rasmussen and Adam Erne.

That goal pretty much closed at the second with the period ending at the same score. The Sharks still lead in shots by the end of the period at 17-13.

The momentum for the red-and-white continued into the third period with Reimer busy to kick things off.

Those chances lead to goal 4:58 into the period as Joe Veleno wrapped it in past a sprawled Reimer to give Detroit a 4-2 lead. The goal was also assisted by Pius Suter and Jonaten Berggren as Suter one timed a shot in the slot that dropped and perfectly set up the wrap around for Veleno.

With the Red Wings scoring three straight the energy seemed sucked out of SAP Center.

However not giving up yet Karlsson fired one towards the net and produced a rebound for Logan Couture to bat home past Husso making it 4-3. Jacob Megna also tallied an assist on the play.

Karlsson of course was not done yet as at the 8:29 mark of the period he made a nice move to the middle and fired one in off of a Red Wings player tying the game up. Labanc and Tomas Hertl got the assists on Karlsson’s 11th goal of the season.

The scoring frenzy in the third period continued however as Moritz Seider fired one past Reimer making it a 5-4 game. It’s a goal Reimer would want back with Perron and Ben Chairot getting the assists.

Labanc nearly responded right after but his shot rang off the post past Husso.

The true dagger in the coffin though happened when Andrew Copp flipped it out to a streaking Suter breaking into the Sharks zone. With the puck a little ahead of him Riemer tried to dive out to play the puck but Suter beat him to it putting the puck into a wide open cage.

With the score 6-4 and not much time left the Sharks pulled Riemer but Kubalik got his eighth of the season on the open net to put it away. Larkin got the lone assist on the goal.

“I thought we had a really good first period I thought they flipped the switch on us in the second. Going down 3-2 and they get on early in the third I thought we battled back after that,” head coach David Quinn said after the game.

The Sharks next game will also be at the Shark tank this time against the New York Rangers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Reimer, Sharks Win 3rd In A Row, Trounce Vegas 5-2

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Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) defends against San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) during second period action at T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Tue Nov 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks embarked on a tough four-game road trip that realistically could have resulted in four losses given how the season started. Instead, San Jose is on a three-game winning streak, having beaten stout competition in Dallas, Minnesota and their latest triumph, a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights

Luke Kunin picked up his 100th career NHL point, Timo Meier scored the game-winner on the power play and James Reimer made 24 saves to lead San Jose (6-9-3) past the Pacific Division Leaders after trailing 2-1 after two periods. Erik Karlsson had a pair of assists, Logan Couture had a goal and an assist and Matt Nieto scored his second goal of the year.

Jack Eichel scored his 10th goal of the season for Vegas and Jonathan Marchessault lit the lamp in the loss for Vegas (13-4-0). The Sharks went 1-for-2 on the power play and killed off all 3 Golden Knights power plays.

Nieto tied the game 2-2 1:03 into the third when four Vegas skaters all seemed to be deked out by Alexander Barabanov below the goal line. They expected Barabanov to rim the puck around, opening the slot for Nieto for an easy unmarked goal. Timo Meier gave the Sharks the late lead on the power play at the 17:12 mark, his 8th goal of the year.

The Sharks had just killed off a high-sticking minor at the 14:10 mark before Reilly Smith was sent off for tripping. Couture, who assisted on the Meier goal, also scored an empty netter. Mario Ferraro scored the second empty-netter for the blow out win.

Vegas got on the board first, with Jack Eichel continue his superstar turn in 2022. He was wide open for a cross-crease pass with just 4 seconds left in the first period to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. The goal was a result of a turnover from Nick Cicek who was making his NHL debut with Radim Simek out with an upper body injury.

Kunin scored his milestone goal 8:05 into the 2nd period to tie the game 1-1 after picking up a Karlsson rebound and ripping a shot home. The play was kept alive by Nico Sturm’s forechecking effort to force a Vegas gaffe, good for a secondary assist.

Marchessault beat Reimer with 4:07 left in the period for a 2-1 lead, but he’d be stellar otherwise. After entering the season in a goalie share system, Reimer has emerged as the team’s starter, manning the pipes for all three wins.

The Sharks return home 6 points richer to welcome the emerging Detroit Red Wings Thursday night. After that, they’ll welcome the New York Rangers Saturday and the Ottawa Senators Monday in a three-game homestand.

Sharks Rally to Erase 2 Goal Deficit, Beat Wild 3-2 in Shootout for First Back-to-back Wins of Season

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Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek is stopped by San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) with Sharks’ Jaycob Megna and Nico Sturm (7) looking on in the first period at the Excel Energy Arena in St Paul Minn on Sun Nov 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks scored two goals in the final seven minutes to erase a two-goal deficit and finished off the Minnesota Wild in a shootout for their first set of consecutive wins. Steven Lorentz scored his second goal of the year for San Jose (59-3), Nico Sturm scored his sixth and James Reimer made 28 saves for the win.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic had a pair of assists and Erik Karlsson added a helper for his team-leading 22nd point of the season. Connor Dewar and Frederick Gaudreau tallied the goals for Minnesota (7-6-2) while Filip Gustavsson made 35 saves.

Kirill Kaprizov had the lone goal of the shootout when Nick Bonino hit the ice for the Sharks third do-or-die shot. He beat Gustavsson then Reimer made a toe save on Joel Eriksson Ek to give San Jose a shot to win in the fourth round. Alexander Barabanov went five-hole on Gustavsson to seal the deal for the two points.

With the Sharks Trailing 2-0, Lorentz started the comeback after grazing the net front and picking up a rebound off Vlasic’s point shot. His first backhander wasn’t successful but he got a second opportunity and buried it at the 13:56 mark.

Sturm, a member of the Minnesota Wild from 2018 to a mid-season trade last year, created the tying goal out of nothing. He picked the puck off the Sharks end boards while Minnesota were transitioning back to defense. He fed it to Vlasic in the Sharks end and Vlasic dished it to Karlsson coming down the center lane.

Karlsson backhanded it to Sturm before crossing the defensive blue line and Sturm skated it all the way into the offensive zone, snapping a wrist shot before the faceoff circle that beat Gustavsson stick side for a 2-2 tie with 4:11 left.

Gaudreau’s goal 6:45 into the first period was a thing of beauty both for the goal and Kaprizov’s assist. Kaprizov was able to thread a puck through three Sharks defenders on the boards in an inexplicable angle. Gaudreau was turned with his back to the end wall, but he turned and waited out Reimer skating across the crease for the 1-0 lead.

The other Wild goal came on a Sharks gaffe with Karlsson manning the point on the power play. The defenseman was back skating butay have hit a divot and took a tumble, giving Mason Shaw a breakaway chance. Dewar joined Jim for a 2-on-0, Shaw did the unselfish thing and made the pass and Dewar buried the easy goal 3:37 into the third.

After winning back-to-back games where they weren’t their best, the Sharks will need their A-game for the win in their next game. They travel to Sin City to face the Western Conference leader Golden Knights Tuesday night.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Alfredsson, Luongo, Sedin Twins on the way to the Hall of Fame; Milano’s two goals helps Caps defeat Bolts; plus more news

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Daniel Alfredsson former Ottawa Senator, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin and Hendrik Sedin former Vancouver Canucks are all heading for enshrinement into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame (NHL.com file photo with NHL.com writer Nick Cotsonika insert)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Three names came up and are on the way to be in the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto Daniel Alfredsson, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin and Hendrik Sedin. Alfredsson almost won the Stanley Cup Championship with the 2007 Ottawa Senators, Luongo and the Sedin Twins nearly won a cup when they lost to the Boston Bruins in Vancouver in game 7 in 2011. All are going to the Hall of Fame.

#2 Sonny Milano helped the Washington Capitals get a win on Friday night with two goals over the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Capital One Arena in DC. The Caps got great goaltending from Darcey Kuemper who stopped 28 shots in the 5-1 win.

#3 Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets will be out for the rest of the season after attempting to make a check but missed and hit the boards separating his shoulder and tore a labrum at 17:01. Werenski scored a goal and got an assist before leaving the game.

#4 Matt, with the war in Ukraine going and no end in sight the NHL and the NHLPA have canceled the World Cup of Hockey saying it’s not feasible for a return for 2024. It was reported that it is uncertain for Russia to have a team as the NHL has suspended all business with Russia during the war.

#5 Timo Meier scored a goal in five straight games doing it again against the Dallas Stars and helping the San Jose Sharks defeat Dallas 5-4. The Sharks got a goal each from Alex Barabanov, Logan Couture, and Tomas Hertl and goaltender James Reimer stopped 24 shots.

Join Matt for the NHL podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Survive Dallas 5-4 to Snap Five-Game Skid, Meier Scores in Fifth-Straight

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San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Stars in the second period in Dallas on Fri Nov 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks avenged a loss to the last place St. Louis Blues the night before by holding on to defeat former Sharks coach Peter DeBoer and the Dallas Stars 5-4 Friday and snap a five-game losing streak. Timo Meier scored in his fifth-straight contest, Alexander Barabanov, Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture each had a goal and an assist and Evgeny Svechnikov scored his 3rd goal of the season for San Jose.

Dallas captain Jamie Benn scored a pair of goals and the top line for Dallas (8-5-1) of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson combined for 5 points in a losing effort. Stars netminder Jake Oettinger, a former tutee of Sharks coach David Quinn when Quinn coached Boston University, made 13 saves on 18 shots in his first game action after missing the previous four games. San Jose’s James Reimer earned the win over last year’s playoff phenom though, making 25 saves on 29 shots.

After finishing the first period tied 2-2 the Sharks (4-9-3) pulled away in a bizarre second period. Team Teal only put four shots on goal over the 20 minutes, but Timo Meier beat Oettinger clean on a wrist shot over the netminder’s right shoulder 29 seconds into the period.

Kevin Labanc got the assist on Meier’s 7th goal of the year after picking up a turnover created by Meier. 36 seconds later, the Sharks captain Couture scored after another Shark, Alexander Barabanov, picked off a turnover and fed for a one-timer. Couture now has goals in back-to-back games after scoring to put the Sharks period shooting percentage at 50% while giving the Sharks a 4-2 lead.

Tomas Hertl put the Sharks up by 3 after deking Oettinger in close on a backhand 29 seconds into the third period, taking a pass from Meier to slink in alone. Jaycob Megna also assited on the goal. Roope Hintz scored 6:18 into the period and Joe Pavelski netted his 7th goal of the campaign at the 12:06 mark but despite out shooting the Sharks 11-3 in the last frame they couldn’t find the equalizer to force overtime.

Jamie Benn opened the scoring 4:42 into play, but Alexander Barabanov scored at the 6:13 mark to tie the game. The Sharks took the first lead of the night at the 12:18 mark when Svechnikov beat Oettinger, but Benn scored his second with just 21 seconds left in the first to tie the game after 20 minutes.

San Jose continues its tour of Central Division foes with a trip to the State of Hockey Sunday afternoon. After the stop in Minnesota, they face Pacific Division rivals the Vegas Golden Knights on The Strip Tuesday to wrap up a four-game road trip.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: NHL teams shopping Karlsson; Will Sharks be sellers?

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San Jose Sharks Erik Karlsson skates against the Florida Panthers on Thu Nov 3, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson lead all NHL defensemen with ten goals and 14 points in his first 14 games this season a remarkable start for Karlsson.

#2 From 2011-2018 Karlsson had a great run with 110 points that’s more than any other defenseman during that time.

#3 Looking back the Sharks gave up on a lot of key players to make cap room for Karlsson players like Justin Braun, Joonas Donskoi, Joe Pavelski, Brenden Dillion, Melker Karlsson,

#4 The Sharks were on a four game losing streak in the first two period of most of those games they seemed competitive and in it but in the third period or overtime they just can’t hold the lead.

#5 Sharks on Thursday opened a four game road trip with the St Louis Blues followed the Dallas Stars tonight, then the Minnesota Wild Sunday and wrap up the trip Tuesday in Vegas.

Join Len for the Sharks podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Blues Snap 8-Game Skid, Beat Sharks 5-3; San Jose extends skid to 5 games

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen can’t stop a loose puck that gets on top of him trying to defend against the St Louis Blues offense at the Enterprise Center in St Louis on Thu Nov 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks couldn’t continue the St. Louis Blues snide Thursday night, dropping a 5-3 loss in the Show Me State to help the Blues snap an 8-game losing streak. The big guns Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks and Erik Karlsson picked up a pair of assists but Calle Rosen broke a 3-3 tie in the third and Noel Acciari scored an empty-netter for the Blues victory and a fifth-straight San Jose loss. St. Louis (4-8-0) is now just one point back of San Jose for the last spot in the Western Conference.

San Jose (3-9-3) started off slowly, giving up a Torey Krug goal just 2:30 into the game but responded with a goal with 3:41 left in the period. The goal is credited to Timo Meier in the official scorecard, but was an own-goal by Justin Faulk on a point shot from Erik Karlsson. The puck bounced around and could credibly have been credited to Karlsson, Meier or Tomas Hertl. Regardless, it tied the game 1-1 after one period.

Jordan Kyrou got lost in Sharks coverage for an easy backdoor power play goal 6:59 into the second period for a 2-1 lead, but Hertl provided the equalizer after Kevin Labanc’s off angle shot rebounded off Jordan Binnington in the Blues net for a perfect slot chance. Hertl converted on it for a 2-all hockey game with 6:55 left in the period.

The Blues wouldn’t let the period play out like the first, scoring with 1:52 left in the middle stanza on Brandon Saad’s first goal of the year. The Sharks captain Logan Couture knotted the game at 3-3 1:26 into the third when Karlsson flicked a puck on net from the boards and Couture tipped it past Binnington, one of three goals on 30 Sharks shots. Rosen scored the winner on a rare point shot goal 8:20 into the period. Acciari scored the empty netter with 19 seconds left. Kaapo Kahkohnen made 28 saves on 32 shots in the loss.

The Sharks won’t have long to ruminate on the loss against the current cellar dweller. They travel to Dallas to face the Stars Friday in the Big D. The Stars are currently second in the Central Division and could see their superstar goalie Jake Oettinger return from injury to face team Teal.

Ducks, Stolarz edge Sharks 5-4 in overtime shootout; San Jose suffers fourth straight loss

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Anaheim Ducks center Adam Henrique, middle, is congratulated by center Trevor Zegras, left, center Ryan Strome (16) and right wing Troy Terry after scoring against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Nov 5, 2022

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Anaheim came up with three goals in the tie-breaking overtime shootout, backed by a stellar effort from goaltender Anthony Stolarz, and defeated San Jose 5-4 Tuesday in an NHL Pacific contest at SAP Center.

It was the Ducks’ second overtime win over San Jose in the last five days.

Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish and Adam Henrique, who scored the game-tying goal late in the third period, scored the shootout goals for Anaheim (4-7-1), Kevin Labanc and Nick Bonino scored goals in the shootout for San Jose (3-8-3).

Stolarz stopped a career-high 48 of 52 San Jose shots in 64 minutes and 18 seconds. Sharks netminder James Reimer made 21 saves on 25 shots.

Trailing 4-2 midway through the third period, Anaheim scored twice in the final four minutes to force overtime. The Sharks’ Tomas Hertl scored his second goal of the season on an assist from Timo Meier at 9:33 of the third period.

At 15:58 of the third period, Mason McTavish tallied for Anaheim, and, at 18:32, Henrique notched the equalizer for the Ducks.

Kevin Labanc’s second goal of the season at 3:54 of the first period opened the scoring. The Ducks responded with goals by Brett Leason at 12:06 and Max Comtois at 17:20, taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

The Sharks surged ahead 3-2 in the second period with goals by Meier, his fifth of the year at 8:09, and a power-play goal by Luke Kunin at 16:35. Erik Karlsson extended his point streak to five games with the assist on Kunin’s goal.

San Jose was 1-7 on the power play, while the Ducks were 0-3.

After a five-day break, the Sharks start a five-game road trip on Friday at St. Louis, followed by stops at Dallas, Minnesota and Vegas,

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Senators put team up for sale; Bruins Miller has not apologized to racial bullying victim says victim’s mother; plus more NHL news

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The late Eugene Melnyk (left), daughters Olivia (center) and Anna (right) owners of the Ottawa Senators. Olivia and Anna and the Senators ownership have put the team up for sale. (NBC Sports file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, the Ottawa Senators are selling the team but with one stipulation that the team remains in Ottawa. Galatioto Sports Partners has a financial advisor who is initiating the sale of the team. Eugene Melnyk who was the original owner of the Senators since 2003 and passed away on March 28th at age 62. Melnyk’s daughters Anna 23 and Olivia 20 have been overseeing the team.

#2 The Boston Burins signed Mitchell Miller who is a goon or a bully of sorts and is coming to the Bruins as a prospect from the Arizona Coyotes. Miller admitted that when he was in the eighth grade at the age of 14 with friends swiped a push pop in a urinal and gave it to Isaiah Meyer-Crothers then 14 who black and disabled. Miller ended up in juvenile detention for actions and according to Crother’s mother Mitchell to this day has never apologized to Crothers who is now in his 20s. Fans and talk shows have expressed anger and disappointment over Mitchell’s signing with the Bruins.

#3 Alex Ovechkin tied a scoring goal mark with former NHL star Gordie Howe with his 786th career goal a second period goal with 12:19 remaining in Detroit against the Red Wings on Thursday night.

#4 Mikko Rantanen got a hat trick for the Colorado Avalanche on the way to defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampere Finland. Rantanen was playing in his home country in the 2022 NHL Global Series at Nokia Arena on Friday for the 6-3 win.

#5 Sebastian Aho scored a hat trick and an assist for the Carolina Hurricanes to help defeat the Buffalo Sabers in Raleigh. Martin Necas got a goal and two assists in the Canes winning 5-3 effort at PNC Arena in Carolina on Friday night.

Join Matt Harrington for the NHL podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com